Ep. 4 - Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

Our rag-tag crew scatter across the lower decks making final preparations for their smuggling operation. Orion and Morin plan a heist.

Content Warnings

• This episode contains discussion and depictions of crime (theft), bribery, smoking, suicidal ideation, and vague discussion of future suicide.

For full The Drifting City content warnings, please reference the Show Notes & Disclaimers linked at the bottom of the episode description.

The Drifting City is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.

Cast & Credits
Chrys: Lily Bell
Morin Wreaver: Aspen Langford
Orion Amaros: Porter Hurst
Rook Aarden: Victor Thorne
Valentine Bellana: Marilyn David
The Narrator: Ray Hamilton

Class & Subclass
Chrys: Coven of the Green Witch (find the class at: Worlds Beyond Number Patreon)
Morin Wreaver: Floater Ranger (Homebrew)
Orion Amaros: Echo Knight Fighter (find the subclass in Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount)
Rook Aarden: College of Spirits Bard (find the subclass in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft)
Valentine Bellana: College of Hard Knocks Bard (Homebrew)

Editing, sound design, episode titles and descriptions by everyone at The Rolling Waves.

Intro & Outro Theme
“The Drifting City (Theme)”
Composed by Porter Hurst.
Performed by Porter Hurst, Victor Thorne, and the friends and family of The Rolling Waves.

S1E4 Music Credits:
Belladonna for Two by Martin Landstrom
Akai Hinode by Sugoi
Kaiko by Sugoi
Hotel Lalo by Harry Edvino
Foggy Sunday by Bladverk Band
All courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

S1E4 Sound Effect and Ambience Credits:
All courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Show Notes and Disclaimers

Transcript

 Episode 4 - Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

Narrator: Last time on, I don't have a beautiful prescripted narration for this one. Um, in

Orion: on Morin's? No. Good, terrible, very bad day.

Narrator: exactly, which ended at the foot of a iron spiral staircase leading up into a warehouse in the lower decks at the bottom of said staircase are a group of three Briggs, the center of which, stands taller, at least a head taller than, the. Other Erian Elvin woman, who is also a younger Bri, and then substantially taller than the Dban man, who is the third stands who Rook would recognize as Lieutenant Hoffen, and who Morin would immediately recognize as the Bri that annex threw a rock at and hit square in the face, breaking his nose and sending the Briggs onto Chase after him, wherein you then went and freed your friend, Aika from being arrested and then went into the sewers.

Clearly the brakes did not take to that situation. And I should say of Lieutenant Hobson, he is a man typed in bold case letters upon the world. He is all sharp angles and broad strokes. He looks for all intents and purposes, like a child might picture a brigadier when you first told them about them. A figure who grows unbelievably wide as he grows tall, like one of the tenements in the lower deck, looming over a fragile street eight rook. Again, you recognize him as he steps up in front of your group and you know, from your previous. With him that he is an imposing man for an imposing time. He looks out of all of you, his bright blonde hair, barely peeking out from beneath his tricor hat. And after just a moment of accusingly addressing Morin turns to you, Rook, I snapping to you with laser focus. Detective Rook,

Rook: Lieutenant Hobson,

Narrator: what are you doing associating with this rabble?

Rook: I'm sorry. Define what you mean by this Rebel.

Narrator: The floater you have there,

Rook: Surely you must be mistaken. I'm not sure what you're referring to.

Narrator: clearly you don't know, but earlier this very day, that one and her apprentice assaulted me in my offices to this motioning towards his broken nose and the blood on his face, and leading to the escape of criminal.

Rook: Okay. Well, one, I don't know anything about that. I've been kind of walking through the street for a little while and then I found myself in these few caverns. Along with that, I know it may be a, a bit of an issue, you know, I'm sure it's hard to differentiate Azi to Azi, but I checked 'cause I hear things. Just I checked, wasn't the person that you were going after up top side injured and barely able to walk? I'm pretty sure she's walking fine and I don't see any visible injuries on her. So maybe you have a different person, but I wouldn't be cavorting with anyone who would assault a brigadier. I think you know me a little too well for that by now. Lieutenant.

Narrator: I'm gonna roll a check for Lieutenant Hobson because, he is a perceptive man, I'm gonna roll a history check to see if he would have perceived that Morin was injured when she interacted with him. 'cause she was acting like she was not. let's see if, if he recalls something like that. Okay. Okay. I him two bites at the apple. I don't know what you know of the situation, but clearly you were not apprised properly. Two floaters, master and apprentice assaulted my officers, one of which distracted us and allowed the other to unbind our captive and allow him to escape, of which were highly trained, incredibly proficient operatives who pose a tremendous danger to this city and ought to be taken to the old town Bri, forth with.

Rook: Hmm. Well, if we're looking for individuals who pose a tremendous danger to this city, find it very difficult to believe that it's this woman who can barely stand on her feet right now. I don't know. You might not be paying attention to that, but the heat does quite get to folks. again, not really fitting the description. And also Flo is a pretty common occupation for Ajai when they can get it. Are you absolutely sure you're not just confusing her with someone else? Because like I said, haven't heard anything of the sort and I've been with her all day.

Narrator: Okay. Trying to figure out if gaslighting is a perception or deception check, or sorry, persuasion or deception check. feel like it is deception here because

Rook: That's fine.

Narrator: that this is correct. Maybe it would be different if, Rook did not think it was this way, but

Rook: if no, he's fully deliberately lying right now. This isn't, this isn't like a, oh, it's the truth. I'm bending it a little bit, but like this is mostly what's up? No, I'm fully, I'm lying to his face. okay. 

Chrys: Also remember, you have advantage.

Rook: yes, one sec.

Morin: Has no poker face, so up close. Rook definitely would know he's lying because he knows that she is guilty.

Narrator: she's doing like the emoji, that's just like the straight teeth. That's just like,

Rook: Okay, so I appeared. My luck appears to be almost on the verge of running out because my first role was a three. However, then,

Narrator: have a van.

Rook: with Advantage, my second role is a, is it deception? It's 24.

Narrator: Wow. I'm gonna roll Insight, but I will tell you that it would be, it would be difficult for Lieutenant Hobson to make it.

Morin: Yes. Light his ass.

Orion: I'm so here for gaslighting.

Narrator: is a three on the die.

Orion: Yes.

Narrator: He looks at you, Rook, and he looks at Morin, and then he looks at you. He looks back at Morin, looks at you, he looks back at Orion, and then looks at Morin, and then looks at you. He looks at Valentine and Ataria, and then back at Morin, and then back at you. And then he looks at the two breaks to either side of him.

And you know what? I'm gonna have them roll insight checks too.

Rook: Oh, son of a,

Morin: Can

Rook: okay.

Morin: see if they think that he's racist?

Rook: Okay. Well, I.

Narrator: All right. They both look at him he goes, perhaps I was quick to judge, and the woman Bri looks up at him. Like makes a face and then she just kind of goes like, sort of shakes her head and rolls her eyes and just seems like I don't care enough to say anything. he looks and goes, well, why are you down here in the first place? This is incredibly suspicious.

Rook: Well, I mean, frankly, my inherent physiology, I'm able to handle this sort of heat partly, you know, people use engine tunnels to travel, people use engine tunnels to navigate, and that what you're doing right now, just traveling from one end of the city to another,

Narrator: But as you said, detective Brooke, that woman does not seem to be handling this heat well,

Rook: which is why we're at the staircase right now and which is why I'm at the front trying to get the rest of us outta here. So it's really a case of there was someone who clearly needed a hand in terms of traveling with this. That hand was offered.

Valentine: We were sightseeing officer, you know, kind of an adventurous urban exploration. it was foolish. We just wanted to see a different side of the city and my poor friend just couldn't handle it. And Detective Rook was so kind as to lead us out of here.

Rook: And if you have forgotten a couple years back, I did used to do a few, you know, did try my hand a bit with engine maintenance. So I do know my way around some of these tunnels. It's only fair that I give people a hand when I can. All gotta do what we gotta do in this city.

Valentine: He's such a good citizen.

Narrator: I'll say Valentine, you're gonna add a deception check, but I'll say you can make it with Advantage 'cause Rook like instantly backed you up on it. Say he's offering you some help.

Orion: I love having two bars in the party.

Morin: This is wonderful. I'm keeping my mouth shut.

Valentine: That's weird. Two twelves. But that is a 19.

Narrator: That's, that's pretty good. I'm gonna have him roll again. Another three on the die.

Chrys: Let's go.

Narrator: Is Valentine currently suppressing her halo?

Valentine: Oh, I mean, she had been earlier, but I don't think she could maintain it for

Narrator: Mm-hmm.

Valentine: so probably not.

Narrator: So he up at you Valentine as you're speaking, like actually takes you in more than like the humorous moment I narrated before. you see his eyes drift like many eyes do, up to the halo around your head. And you see immediately face softens and his hand to his coat and you don't see him touch anything specifically, but you know the motion enough to know that beneath his coat, he has a small obsidian stone resting against his heart, indicating that he is a devout worshiper of the all and none. And you just, you no check required. It's just something you've seen all the time. And he looks at you and he looks at the others and he goes, I don't think a miracle would lie to us. I think that perhaps coincidences do happen. I don't think we're going to have any success searching down here while the engines are running. We'll escort you all to the lower deck. Make sure you get there safely. This, um, stairway is quite unsafe.

Valentine: Much obliged.

Narrator: Of course, any sort of stands to the side. Clearly expecting you all to go in front.

Rook: Real quick above table. We were trying to go right?

Narrator: Yes.

Rook: And he's trying to have us go down.

Narrator: like he's

Rook: Oh, no. Okay.

Narrator: Yeah.

Valentine: up

Rook: Oh, okay. Okay.

Narrator: Yeah.

Chrys: Yeah, this is the lowest you can get.

Rook: yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Cool. Cool, cool. Yep. Cool.

Valentine: I'm gonna try to like link arms with him and kind of bat my eyes and kind of have him escort me towards the front of the pack.

Narrator: Mm, do a persuasion check with advantage.

Valentine: Persuasion. That is a 23.

Narrator: Nice. So as you sort of link arms with him, he looks at you and it's the unfortunate thing where, you know, everyone sort of looks slightly above your eyes. He's not looking at you. He's looking at what you are. And he goes, oh yes, of course. We'll, we'll guide you up top, Coron, Shayla, bring up the rear. And he starts walking you up the stairs leading the way he takes the, the stairs are wide enough that even though there's no railing, it's not necessarily a huge chance of falling, but it is still uncomfortable and he puts you closest to the inside. So he stands along the outside, sort of forming a barrier between. You and and, uh, walks up with you as he's walking, he goes, sightseeing. It's a bit dangerous for one, such as yourself to, to do such a thing in the hold. There are unfortunates dwell here.

Valentine: I can be so silly sometimes I, I know that it wasn't a good idea. I won't do it again.

Narrator: I wouldn't recommend it. Uh, how do you like it in the lower day? He's just trying to make small talk as, you head up, do the rest of the party mates follow behind? Mm-hmm.

Rook: Yeah, I think, I think Rook would be keeping close pace behind Val, like Valentine is probably up by, Lieutenant Hoffen. Rook would probably then be like in step with the other two Briggs, just, well, because it is, it's Lieutenant Hoffen and there's one other brick or two other bricks.

Narrator: To the two

Rook: That's right.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Narrator: the astral

Rook: Is,

Narrator: woman and the dwarfish. They're, they're both young people.

Rook: yeah. So I think Rook would kinda try to keep in step with them. and it's just also gonna be trying to make conversation and it's just gonna be like, I, I do gotta say misunderstanding, you know, not withstanding here, but fantastic work you all are doing. Have y'all been any difficulties lately on the streets?

Any big pressing concerns?

Narrator: The Enson who was referred to as Enson Cochran, he looks at you and he goes, well, it's been, um, a bit difficult lately. There's been a lot of activity, especially on that border between lower and middle deck. There's been some. And then you see that Enson Shayla, who was the one that looked kind of put upon with Lieutenant Hobson's looks between Cochran and you and gives you a look like she knows the whole shtick she is not gonna participate, but she's not gonna say anything.

And she looks at you and she goes, things have been difficulty. Yes, but we're doing just fine. go up.

Rook: I couldn't have said it better myself, just starts chatting with Coran at that point.

Narrator: And she follows along at the very tail end. And you make your way up. It takes about 20 minutes to climb this staircase. It is incredibly steep. You were very deep within the hold. As you get closer to the sort of top of the hold area, you, the light from above goes brighter and brighter until you emerge into what appears to be a sort of warehouse area.

It seems like it's maybe attached to sort of the uppermost levels of the engine, and there's light coming through the windows from the street lamps outside. There's not actually light within the space, but there's enough windows that it's well illuminated in this place. as you emerge, Lieutenant Hoffen looks back down to you Valentine and says, and you know, even if you had made your way up this ladder, technically it's trespassing to be in here.

We as Briggs have the right of passage into, you know, anywhere we need to go to, for brigadier business. But it's not necessarily a place that we want members of the public to go freely.

Valentine: Oh my. I wouldn't have wanted to be trespassing.

Narrator: Hmm. Well, I, I, I, I knew you wouldn't in intend for such a thing, but just so that you are now aware that it is a substantial risk, you know, be, be cautious.

Valentine: That's very good advice. Thank you so much. You know, you must see much in your work and meet so many interesting people. Have you met a lot of people in the upper decks?

Narrator: About that. Of course, I have, I've met so many important people. my superior officer I've met, um, he's stationed in the, um, haw. He, it's, it's adjacent to the upper deck, the, the uppermost, pillar, brigadier station, and, um, he's a person. Mm-hmm.

Valentine: Wow.

Narrator: Oh man. Um, and it is, I, I'll have Valentine do an insight check.

Valentine: I would love to, we're back baby. Okay. That's actually not that bad. 13.

Narrator: 13. I would say that with a 13, this does not seem like someone who is well connected or who knows a lot. has been promoted to the immediately above Ensin and can tell from his age, he's been here for like a hundred years, there has been no other promotions, nothing else. And he wants desperately to impress you because he believes you are a very significant and important person. But he doesn't have a lot to give you. He's given you what he can.

Valentine: Okay. Okay. Well thank you so much for bringing us up here. Who's so kind of you?

Narrator: an an escort, uh, to, to walk you home, make sure you are, you're safe. And he goes, oh, it's like middle of shift. It, there's all sorts out in these odd hours.

Valentine: oh, that's all right. I'm sure I'll manage, and I'm sure you have much more important things to be doing.

Narrator: More important than Is, is escorting a miracle? Absolutely not. Um, please, where, where can we take you?

Rook: Uh, last I checked, wasn't there still that, uh, floater. On the loose, you mentioned,

Narrator: I didn't ask you Detective Ruck.

Rook: sorry. Sorry. You know me. Just always button in.

Narrator: No, no, you're right. I have a very solemn and important duty and he looks at Valentine. So important.

Valentine: So important.

Rook: your very solemn duty that you swore to this city. However, in your stead as a frequent associate coworker, whatever you may want to call it, I can personally guarantee the safety of the lady myself in case it eases your conscience at all.

Narrator: hmm.

Valentine: I'm gonna unlink my arm with the lieutenant and link my arm with rooks, be

Narrator: And no insight check required. He looks so sad for just a second and then he sort of marshals his expression. Alright. we were supposed to watch this post. Um. Hmm, we will send you on your way. I will expect Detective Rook that you stop by the station with a report, ensuring that all arrived where they are going.

Rook: Absolutely. Of course,

Narrator: Um, and you know, a more specific description of how you came upon so many lost in the hold. If there is some unfortunate, uh, flawed map being disseminated or something along those lines, we must, bring the forgery to justice.

Rook: yes, of course. Part of the reason is, you know, I mean I've, uh, you'll get a report. know, I always do.

Narrator: you do? Alright. Well,

Rook: Yeah, just be careful down there. Engine's. acting up. It's a little temperamental, it's a little extra hot. So even I was starting to feel it and you know how I am

Narrator: yes, I certainly know it's uncomfortable. Fortunately, a bit of a breeze from the warehouse at the bottom. But anyway, um, travel safe, um, miracle and. All of you, he sort of looks at the Motley crew, his eyes for the first time, linger and like a weird expression looking at Chris. And then you just see him kind of go, it's, it's probably fine. And he turns to look at the other Nins and says, alright, back down below. And Conran's like, well, just climbed up all the stairs. And he goes, I don't, Kay, it's time to. And then Sheila just sort of shakes her head and she looks sort of back over the group Shrugs looks at Rook, shakes her head and starts going back down the stairs.

Rook: as, as the Hoffen and Coran both turn around and Sheila's just looking. R is just gonna go real quick. Turn around.

Narrator: And she is going to, give a hand sign. And Rook, do you speak Ith? Kaan.

Rook: Do I speak with I don't think so. I speak common and I speak primordial.

Narrator: I'll say do a religion check for me.

Rook: it. That is a 17 plus four for a 21.

Narrator: Ooh. so I'll say with that check, while you did not immediately, like it's not super connected to the language for you, it's more so connected to the religious significance. The hand sign that she does is related to the worship of Edith Koa It is the sign for those who follow the virtue of wit. So it seems like she, as someone who follows this virtue, had great respect for the wit that was shown in this interaction and decided not to say anything out of respect for it.

Morin: Um.

Valentine: Nice.

Rook: Fantastic.

Narrator: And

Rook: I'm not even gonna remotely try to push my look. I'm gonna shut up and I'm going to keep walking.

Narrator: Alright. You are able to walk out into the dim ever present light of the lower decks. The rain from above is no longer falling in sheets. There's just sort of the trickle as it comes off of all the different buildings and is slowly just the last dregs of it working its way down the streets are still fairly flooded.

You'd be wading through ankle high water this low in the lower decks, but it's not the knee, high water it was before. And you can go wherever. What's the plan?

Valentine: We were going to the docks, right?

Narrator: Mm-hmm.

Chrys: How high are we right now?

Narrator: You are if, if the hold was negative one, you are now at zero.

Chrys: Okay.

Narrator: Mm-hmm. And I'll say anyone would know that the docks are located at Midship, at sort of the border between upper and middle deck, sort of partway up the city. And there are docks on both sides because sometimes the. You know, starboard side of the city is the one that gets put up against the seam.

Sometimes it's the port side. It just sort of depends on how they approach the seam at a given time. for specifically the Merin tear, which is where what you are approaching now, you know, because of the regular secular, ugh, secular, whatever the word is, cycles, that it is cyclical. Yes. Thank you very much, Lily. Due to the cyclical cycles, which is probably redundant, whatever, it'll be a port side, docking. And, so that would be the dock that you would need to go to in order to have a gangway that'll help you access through the seam.

Valentine: Does anyone know where we can get some protective? Gear. We can't send, oh my gosh, I forgot her name. through with nothing. Or she'll burn up before she hits Terra firma.

Orion: Is a good point. Would I know anything about this? Is this like a history check or

Narrator: I would say. You know, some off the bat, but I'll say do a history check and I'll give you more detail depending on how you will have an answer, but I'll just determine how detailed it is based on this

Orion: 16.

Narrator: Okay. With a 16, the detail I'll give you is, well, first of all, you immediately think, okay, well if you need protection in the void, that's literally what the sun lasher uniform is for. but as you think with more detail, you know, from being out there that the seams or the tears are specifically radiant energy that has ripped a hole in the cosmos, in, in the planes, it is through this tear that people are able to pass through without the use of incredibly powerful magic and something that would be also known to, you know, floaters and other people who frequently move outside the city in the zero gravity of the void itself. Is that. Just like it would be a death sentence to go into a radiant storm without sun lasher equipment or something similar. It would likewise be a death sentence to go through a tear without similar protection. How the gangways function is that they are essentially heavily fortified tubes that are inserted through the seam to allow people to pass back and forth within this protected area. And so that's how most trade and transfer of people is conducted.

Orion: Okay. is good to know. And just kind of like a follow up thing for the gangways, since I'm assuming that's more common knowledge, is it like the risen flavor of TSA people, people who come in and out get kind of checked and documented? Or is it just like goes

Narrator: I would say it's common knowledge that you need permission to board or disembark risen. It, the population is heavily controlled in that way because of the scarcity of resources. So if you need to leave, you essentially need to ask permission, for your disembarkation forms and your, your permission or your embarkation permission.

Orion: Hmm. Sorry, one last question on my table. Like how closely are people inspected? Because like, asking for permission, it's one thing to kind of just get permission. It's another thing if you're inspected like very thoroughly.

Narrator: I will above table tell you that unless you have the proper paperwork, you are not getting through unless you do something sneaky.

Orion: Got it. Okay. All right, gang. We have, we have two options. So the first option, could backfire horrifically for all of us should it fall through getting a terri a disguise to go through the actual gangway. I don't like that idea to be quite frank with you. The other idea is, I see if I can scrounge up Sun Lasher suit and see if I can pull some strings and get somebody to it off to me for a little bit.

takers.

Chrys: What is a sun? Lasher?

Orion: Uh, you, don't know what those are.

Chris, you live by the engines. Right.

Chrys: Yes.

Orion: And what do you suppose powers those engines?

Chrys: Um, heat.

Orion: In, in a sense, a sense, this whole place, this everything here on this floating we, we are able to move forward because of essentially radiant energy. That's what all of this is. That's what bombards our city constantly. That's what the power outages are, and that's what we run on and somebody's gotta get out there and reel some of that in so that we can continue going forward in this expanse. Um, and I used to be one of them. So, I, I'll see what I can do.

Valentine: It's all we can ask.

Narrator: And speaking up for the first time in a while, Terry goes, oh, you used to be an actual, Sun Lasher. Sun lasher. I just, I thought you worked in like the inventory department or something.

Orion: Orion's smile is so forced at the mention of inventory. Yeah. No, it's, um, I used to, I used to be one of the out on the field. Um, I honestly hate inventory. I don't, I don't care if this gets back to turn. I, I cannot stand inventory. It is the worst thing. There's not a day that goes by without me wanting to get back out in the field, but I can't, inventory is where I stay. just get on attorney's nerves and that's decent enough entertainment to get me through my shifts.

Narrator: Hmm.

Chrys: Can I rule an insight check on that?

Narrator: Sure.

Chrys: Like, like he said, he can't, but what does that mean?

Narrator: Hmm.

Chrys: Ooh, 22.

Orion: Hmm. You get the sense that when he says he can't, it's not, he says it in such a way, the way he holds himself and the way that he kind of, eyes seem to be looking for something far off in the distance. It's really not that he was let go of the position. Like, like he, it wasn't like he was fired for not performing up to par. It really is what he said. He just, he cannot actually physically bring himself. That is not a job that he can actually do anymore. There's no lie in that. It's not, it's not like a, oh, my boss is so unfair and fired me. It is genuinely a, I am no longer fit for this position and therefore I no longer work it kind of situation.

Chrys: Hmm. Okay.

Orion: I, but hey. On the topic of getting on attorney's nerves, um, how about we see if I can, uh, rustle up a sun lasher suit for our esteemed guess over here?

Rook: I think that seems to be one of the best options we got. Yeah.

Narrator: Whatever we need to do, we just need to keep moving. I don't like standing out here on the street.

Rook: Mm-hmm. So let's get you somewhere secluded and let's get Orion somewhere where he can get us the Sun Lasher suit.

Orion: and let's get more in some water.

Rook: Yep, that too.

Valentine: So, where do we need to go? Orion?

Orion: Uh, close am I to a refinery or adjacent location?

Narrator: You would know that the Sun Lashers actually use the Gangways in between, dockings to do their, you know, missions, they the gangways extend so that they can get you sort of, as far as possible in the protection of the gangway before you go out into the storm. So actually there Sun Lasher hubs sort of all around the center ring of the ship towards the hole side. so it'd actually be darn right convenient, to stop by a sun lash or. Sort of office, there's different hubs. So in, it would depend if you wanted, you know, excess resources, suits that have been freshly made and are still in, in, you know, storage or old suits in storage or things that are being repaired.

Or if you want ones that are being actively used, those, those would all be in different places.

Orion: Okay. I think Orion is probably gonna gear towards suits that are being actively used, because those are the ones that are a, as far as he knows for sure, has no issues. New ones haven't been tested in the broken and the old ones, he's not sure when they're gonna, you know, like. Blow a fuse. So, he's gonna probably opt for a, in use suit.

Narrator: Alright, so the place you would be most familiar with is your home station, which is a starboard side station. everyone there knows you and it is very busy. On the other side is sort of a sister station that is the mirror image that is similarly busy, but people don't necessarily know you. And the, I got my directions mixed up. Whatever direction I said it was, is, um. Similar, but you don't, and you wouldn't have access to it necessarily. Like your pass, pass keys and keys and whatnot would not work there, but you would be familiar with the layout and where things are and how it operates, if that makes sense.

Orion: Okay. Um, all right, well guess we're all taking a field trip, uh, to my, to my workplace. Uh.

Rook: all of us, or is, is this better for kind of a you situation? I feel like this is kind of sneaky to the point where, you know, you come in with a crowd of six other, you know, wait, five other yahoos ain't gonna go the best.

Orion: Fair enough. Um, I, at, at any rate, we should set up a rendezvous point.

Rook: True.

Valentine: How far are we from the fading light?

Narrator: You the fading light was closer to AFT and you're now closer to Midship, so it's a fair distance. Mm-hmm.

Valentine: We are pretty far from my Heidi hole. I think unless anyone else has spots nearby, I think we might have to follow Orion just to get out of the open. I.

Rook: How, quick question, how close would this be? More to where I would be situated from what I know. Any spots around here that I could lay low or just dip into, or even just like my actual place.

Narrator: Mm, I don't think we established that exactly for Rook. So go ahead and just do a luck check for me. We can figure

Rook: take that.

Narrator: where your apartment is.

Rook: That's

a 15.

Narrator: 15. So I'll say, you know, not conveniently next door, but within the same neighborhood because basically the Midship area of the lower deck, so the lower decks as you get higher, get slightly nicer, and then as you get closer to the original deep city they get nicer. So it, it's sort of a diagonal gradient almost. And so in this sort of nicer, but not necessarily. You know, mid deck level place. There's lots of individual apartments rather than sort of run down tenements and a little bit of a better vibe overall, but still, of course lower deck, but not too far. If you walk just a few more blocks, you'll get to the apartment building where your apartment is located.

Rook: Okay. well, uh, this goes against any and all better judgment than I have. Um, but considering the matter of necessity and the ex due respect, I would like to disclaim that while I say this at area, um, extreme inconvenience that this day has posed. Um, despite that, you know what, actually, hold on. He takes his jacket off, it to a ter, takes his hat off, puts it on a ter. Great. You are barely even detectable as any person that is semblance of you. Someone sees you. That's they're way too good at this point is walking a few blocks. are. I can't believe I'm doing this. We're going to my apartment. Cool, cool.

Narrator: Uh, detective Rook, aren't she gonna me dinner first?

Rook: No, I ain't buying you anything. you out. tired of this. This case sucks.

Narrator: So I was trying Human I. Eva, let's go.

Valentine: He's

Rook: No.

Narrator: Ugh.

Rook: Hmm.

Chrys: Is buying people dinner before going to your house normal.

Rook: No. Chris, she was making what's called an innuendo.

Orion: We will not be explaining to

Rook: I will not in fact be explaining that, nor will I be detailing that. However, ter, I did find it funny. My face is just a little hard to read, so apologies for that.

Narrator: I, Ugh.

Rook: Look, I'm sorry today's a lot, but let's just please get walking because I don't want any more complications to happen because running into Hoffen was already difficult enough. Let's just get a move on. Cool. Orion, we'll meet you back at the docks.

Orion: Sounds good.

Valentine: Come

Chrys: Uh,

Valentine: I'm gonna give him a bardic inspiration.

Chrys: good.

Narrator: see Aspen's face. Do you need to add something?

Morin: Ryan, do you want someone to come with you on this like stealth mission you're going on alone.

Orion: Um, you know, having yes and no. I, I would like credibility. Um, so are you offering to come? 

Morin: Only if you think it would be helpful. If you think it wouldn't be helpful. I'll stay back. I have a stop. I need to make somewhere. Anyways.

Orion: Why don't, why don't you tag along? I'm thinking that maybe some, I dunno, some getting to look out into the void might do a little good for you.

Narrator: All right. You sort of follow along and make it to R'S apartment and split ways on the outside while Orion and Morin begin to head up towards Midship proper, what, give us a tour of R'S apartment as you all go in. What, what does that crew see as they are settling down to lay low?

Rook: So, he opens the door and it's kind of, it's kind of one of those cases where like the lock on it is pretty, it's like the lock needs maintenance, but the apartment complex doesn't care all that much. So like the key sticks a little bit as he like twists and like gets caught. But he opens the door and as soon as it like opens starters, the inside kind of just has this very pervasive scent of like a very heavy, herbal smoke to it. And like, you get like a little bit of scent of like, what's almost like lavery, mullany, like kind of just a bunch of like, just a lot of herb smell that's very, very suffused into this whole place. Otherwise it's pretty spotless. There isn't much mess. But it also looks like the place is someone who isn't that often, but you go in and it's like a pretty chill, pretty like mellow looking I would say probably like, like a one bedroom studio situation. So like it opens up there's this like living room set up, you know, a couple seats, sofa. that also looks pretty minimal, but enough, then kinda just a closed door off the right. You're just like, okay. Again, very impromptu, but make yourselves at home. I'm not gonna be an Im, I'm not gonna be an improper host, so if you need anything, just let me know. For the record, I'm not humorless anyway. And he walks and

Narrator: of looks at you. Um, I'm sorry, did I interrupt you?

Rook: Nope.

Narrator: She's standing in the doorway, like not quite stepping in as she sort of looks around at clearly your private space and she just looks a bit uncomfortable as she's standing there in your in under your hat, looking around.

Rook: Okay. I'm, I'm sorry. It was impromptu, obviously you're clearly trying to remain obscure, so I was trying to assist with that. I, I was trying to lend a hand. Just gimme my, just gimme my hat back. Gimme my coat back.

Narrator: All right. She sort of takes it off and hands it to you. gonna invite a lady in?

Rook: I thought I just. You're right, where are my manners? Atter, you are more than welcome inside my apartment. Please make yourself at home

Narrator: I thank you Mr. Rook. I appreciate it. I dunno.

Rook: and to everyone here, I'm a a, I apologize for the curtness. Down in the engines, I get a right headache being down there. It's a, it's a lot.

Narrator: Hmm. 

Rook: Excuse me. And he walks over into his kitchen, um, and he kind of reaches into one of the cabinets, pulls out a jar of herbs and just starts packing into the pipe again. Just lights up,

Narrator: expensive stuff.

Rook: uh, kind of a necessity.

Narrator: Hmm. 

Rook: spendy where you can.

Narrator: would say she looks down at her soden clothing. makeup she was wearing has sort of dribbled down her face a little bit. She's been trying to sort of keep it nice with her fingers, but you know, she's got that unintentional smokey eye look happening from all the rain. She looks and she goes, you got a, a powder room or something?

The restroom I can freshen up a little.

Rook: Uh, no, sorry. Apartment actually doesn't have one of those. No, I'm, I'm, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. That, uh, that was a joke. Very clearly a joke.

Narrator: Alright. Uh,

Rook: It's, it's, it's, it is that door on the ride over there.

Narrator: okay. It's been a weird day. gonna go take a

Rook: I I, I agree. Take, take all the time you need.

Narrator: Alright.

Valentine: want some of my, I've got some cosmetics if you wanna freshen up.

Narrator: I got mine in a pocket somewhere. Hal, I'll be good. Thank you though. I appreciate it. Valentine.

Valentine: I can be nice sometimes.

Narrator: And she steps into the other room and shuts the door and you hear, uh, does, does the water in this apartment work is there running water?

Rook: say yes. Yes, there would be, because makes enough to get a, a, a decent place along with the exuberant, expensive mix of Planty Smokes

Narrator: Oh yeah, you hear the faucet start going, and generally the sound of, know, splashing and and whatnot. As you have a few moments before Aria comes back out, if there's something you wanna

Chrys: Um, how high are we?

Narrator: say that'd be up to Rook.

Rook: fourth floor.

Chrys: So like, is that high?

Rook: It's like

Chrys: Oh, oh no, I meant like, I meant like deck wise.

Narrator: You're still in

Rook: Oh

Narrator: decks.

Rook: yeah. We're still, we're still lower deck. I

Chrys: Oh, okay. Where are you guys in the room?

Valentine: Mm. Hovering Awkwardly, no, that's, that's a Maryland thing to do. Valentine is draped across the couch like she owns the place.

Rook: and Rook

Chrys: And,

Rook: firmly in the kitchen by like the, the, like the stove hood so that the smoke isn't getting near everyone.

Chrys: Are there windows in this house or

apartment?

Rook: in the living room? No, because the main portion of the living room is like connected to the interior by

Chrys: Mm-hmm.

Rook: Like in the kitchen there's like a, a panel window there,

Chrys: Right.

Rook: that can open up. so yeah.

Chrys: Okay.

Rook: there's a, there's a window. Yeah.

Chrys: Chris is kind of like standing in the corner, like somewhere around like the boundary between the kitchen and the living room. Just kind of swaying a little bit back and forth looking around like, con, not confusedly or, but it's like, it's like they look a little bit uncomfy.

Rook: Uh, are, is everything okay? Could I, could I get you anything, uh, Chris, right?

Chrys: Oh, I am All right. I just don't leave the hold very much.

Rook: Hmm. This must be a bit of a change of circumstance then.

Chrys: Mm-hmm.

Rook: Understandable. Could I get you anything to help or. I don't quite have that much of a, of a tee set up, but I think I might be able to get something. It, it might not be great, but

Chrys: I, do you have, do you have any odds and ends of any sort that you don't mind not having?

Rook: Uh, odds and ends.

Chrys: I like to craft things. It helps me think.

Rook: Oh, um, shoot. Yeah. Um, one sec. Be right back. And he kinda quickly shuffles over into his room and he, like, you just hear like the sound of like drawers opening and closing and opening and closing again. And he comes back out and in his hand there is a single, single ball of yarn and two needles, and they're just stuck in it.

He goes, A client of mine didn't have much to pay, so I, I kind of just wanted, she, she wanted to gimme something and what she had was this. So I wasn't gonna, wasn't gonna refuse that, but I have no

Chrys: Oh,

Rook: it.

Chrys: Is it like crocheting or knitting needles.

Rook: Knitting needles.

Chrys: Chris gently takes it from you and says, oh, I haven't knit in a while. Thank you.

Rook: Yeah, the course, uh, quick, so sorry, I just need to get the thought out while it's here. Valentine one.

Valentine: right.

Rook: believe we ever had a proper introduction, we'll get to that later. Two. Why did the lieutenant address you like that?

Valentine: Oh, it's, it's just part of the religion, the all and none. There's veneration for asmar. They think we're miracles. we cause good things to happen.

Rook: Hmm. Wouldn't that be great?

Narrator: Is Savage,

sorry, I don't wanna interrupt this.

Valentine: I know I haven't seen much evidence of it myself. They say that the highest good a miracle can obtain is to sacrifice themselves for some greatness. So still time for that.

Rook: Oh, I don't think that's something you should, as you should aspire to. There's not really much good in sacrifice for something Great if it's not. Usually I find sacrifice isn't all it's cracked up to be is the point there. However, despite the earlier hostility and the tension, it's a pleasure to meet you. You already know this, but name's Rook. So,

Valentine: Very nice to meet you, detective.

Rook: and likewise, you handled yourself well with the improvised escape back there. I had to say something about it. I don't usually see people that operate as quickly as I do with stuff like that. Not to mention picking up my slack, that's a tall order 'cause I left.

Valentine: I

Rook: That would not my best work.

Valentine: You didn't leave much slack to pick up. You handled yourself well as well.

Rook: Mm-hmm. I'd almost believe that. But I do know that flattery seems to be your thing.

Valentine: ah, you've seen right through me how perceptive of you,

Rook: You are at Charmer, aren't you?

Valentine: we all have some gifts in this world, just happens to be mine.

Rook: Well, at least one of us got a pretty face.

Narrator: In this moment, the, the door opens and atter sort of back out into the room. is Valentine's still draped across the couch?

Valentine: definitely like, maybe even drape beer now.

Narrator: Atter is, is there another chair? Place to sit?

Rook: It's almost similar to like the apartment type like dorms. That you would, that you could imagine. So there's like a table to eat at and there's a sofa and there's like a love seat. So there's like a smattering of chairs that just sort of comes with it.

Narrator: She goes and she sits in the loveseat, sort of quietly just listening. Fiddling with her hands.

Valentine: Ing All right.

Narrator: Yeah, just, uh, nervous is all. Um, how's the post irrigation weather? And we'll fade out of this scene as, um, we'll follow up the street with, um, Morin and Orion. As you are walking in the direction of the, guys go towards the main gondolas that lead up to Midship, or sorry, mid deck and beyond, or would you go to one of the other, slightly longer, but more out of the way staircases and ladder passages as you're heading that direction?

Or would you go somewhere else?

Orion: I am personally leaning towards staircase or otherwise, mostly just because I know gondolas have a system of checking passengers and I'd like, I'd like more to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible.

Morin: I'm following your lead on this.

Orion: Okay. like, I'm not planning to go some extremely roundabout like parkouring along the outer city type B. So I guess I'll take a probably lesser used stairway

Narrator: Mm-hmm.

Orion: up to the, what was it that I said? The port.

Narrator: Yeah. Um, you're in, yeah. To your home. One that you are familiar with.

Orion: Nope, not

Narrator: Oh,

Orion: stubborn.

Narrator: I might've reversed them, I forget. Doesn't matter. So you're going to the starboard one that is less familiar and, moving in that direction. It takes time to travel because the city is so large and so vertical. So it takes, I'll say, by the time you all split up at R'S apartment, have entered into our four of your 20, like 20 hours left.

Essentially in this excursion. you are heading up, you begin working your way up to mid decks. I believe Morin said that she had a stop, she wanted to make. Would you intend to do that before or after your little mission?

Morin: I will come back afterwards if we make it out alive.

Narrator: Power of positive thinking. It's easy enough to navigate, but I will say it takes you on foot, not using the gondolas, which are much faster, half an hour. To get up to middle decks and another half hour to get to, the actual station. So by the time you get there, we're in 19 hours left you arrive outside of the starboard side, sun Lasher office.

Orion: Here we are.

Morin: I'm gonna stay out here. I'm gonna stay quiet. I'm gonna try not to be seen. You said you were gonna try to convince someone to give you one.

Orion: Um, yeah, this is, um, just generally where I work anyways, uh, people should know me and, um, hopefully I have enough credit that it wouldn't be too difficult slipping a suit out for a bit.

Morin: Great. be here if you need me. I can be quiet in and out. for your signal.

Orion: do you want to, and at this point, Orion,

Morin: I.

Orion: removes if I could pull my sheet up He removes the war pick that he carries, like under a little pack that he has on his back. And he offers it to more. And do you wanna just take this just in case,

Morin: What is it for?

Orion: you know, obviously try not to use it. That would be great. Fantastic. Even if that is remains unused. but you know, on the off that you're recognized or someone starts coming after you, I mean, survival is priority over anything else. I would just take it,

Morin: Okay. Uh,

Orion: be in and out, hopefully. We'll, we won't have to use it, but you know, just on the off chance.

Morin: can you describe what it looks like to me

Orion: Mm-hmm.

Morin: just so I like, make sure I have the right visual in my mind of what's happening?

Orion: It looks like a pickax by all means. It's not fancy. It's really more for durability than it is Cool factor. It is a worn wooden handle that has some metal. I will specify what kind of metal, like I'm thinking like steel, I don't know what kind of stuff you could get on the city actually, but just something that's durable like steel that's kind of wrapping around just to provide it a little extra support. And it's a kind of hammer head esque on one side and a fairly blunt pick on the other. But it's like if you swing it with enough force, it's not gonna matter that it's blunt. It doesn't need to be a sickle, you know what I mean? So, I would say it's about a little longer than forearm length, just not a huge weapon.

Easy to swing and fairly okay to conceal.

Morin: Okay. I'll take it and slide it into one of the loops on my belt. And then if you're heading in, I'm gonna try to find an alley or a shadowy spot nearby to try to kind of just tucker down for a while.

Orion: All right. Sounds good. Um, in and out. I'll see you in a bit.

Narrator: All right. More enroll a stealth check for me to see how good of a little hide hole you can make.

Morin: I did also forget until Marilyn just messaged about my two levels of exhaustion, but hopefully it'll still be fine.

Well, I still got a 22,

Narrator: woo.

Valentine: Woo.

Narrator: Nice. So you find a good alley. It's the kind of place that you can lean against one of the walls and just be in the shadow of the building that you are in across the street from the entrance to the main Sun Lasher office here, and you are fully encased in Shadow Inconspicuous. If someone walked by, they might not even notice you're there. As you keep an eye out for Orion to leave and Orion, you go towards this office that's not your home office, but. like it, it's almost a mirror image as you approach. And what are you gonna do? You get to the front doors. You know that in your home office there's a reception area where there is typically someone who works at the front desk because there's mail coming in and out all the time, people coming in, requesting shipments, all sorts of things front of house.

There's the individual departments inside like inventory, like the storage and warehousing, like the artificer shop for the different suits and all of those things. As well as the actual locker rooms that lead towards the gangways and actual usage facilities that the Sun Laers use to perform their duties. So how do you wanna go about gaining access? The easiest is the front door. Other entrances would likely be locked.

Orion: I guess the least suspicious way to go in is just to walk on in there.

Narrator: Alright, you do so, and behind the front desk you see sort of middle age looking woman. Her skin is a translucent only semi formed blue. Her hair are. curls of foam waves sort of splashing down around her face in a short, bob, but like a curly bob. And, over her, body is, she's wearing a sort of wrapped robe that a lot of water jani wear, to sort of keep their moisture to themselves.

And then the normal sun lasher, front desk uniform on top of that, you just see the robes underneath, peeking through, from the top of her button shirt. she looks at you and she goes, oh, hello. Um, what can I do for you?

Orion: Hi. Um, so I have a quick favor to ask of you if that's all right.

Narrator: Oh, we don't deal in favors. We deal in energy. What can I do for you?

Orion: Uh, that's right. Um, so, um, my name's Orion and so I think at this point, am I still wearing the uniform? I'm still wearing the uniform.

Narrator: Mm-hmm.

Orion: Okay. So I kind of pull my patch around and the color shows that I run inventory. And I'm just like, um, so I just, I just got a bit of a request for you. Um, could I take a look at some of the, uh, lash lashing suits that are still, um, currently being used, uh, on the field right now? Um, I might need to borrow one, uh, if just for a little bit. Um, but can I just kind of take a look so that I can,

Narrator: Um, well, I don't recognize you, I don't think you work in this facility, sir. And, um, why would someone in inventory need a sun lasher uniform anyway,

Orion: as a fantastic question, hang on. Above energy, table. I'll cut this out.

Narrator: above energy? I don't like this energy.

Rook: No, I, I, I find it so much more funny just imagining or just her asking this. To Ryan. Ryan, just go in, huh? Just, just staring at her blank slate

Orion: legitimately cutting this bit out 'cause I have no idea what I'm gonna say. I need a minute. legitimately

Chrys: Would we have talked about this beforehand?

Valentine: No,

Narrator: No, you, you guys did not.

Orion: I, I was

Rook: there.

Orion: would come to me, you know, spirit of improv in the moment. But I legitimately do need like, hopefully a minute or so that I

Narrator: Okay.

Rook: There may have.

Orion: not completely bombed this

Rook: There may have been a flaw in us taking both charisma people and putting them in the same apartment. Just

Chrys: Yeah.

Valentine: hanging out.

Rook: vibing, just chilling.

Valentine: I

Morin: I would be making it worse if I was there so.

Valentine: I feel

Chrys: In hindsight,

Valentine: is always good. You know, like if

Narrator: Mm-hmm.

Valentine: they might be more willing to work with you.

Narrator: That's how the scammers get you.

Orion: the original, okay. Originally I went starboard because, like, I thought that was I starboard. I thought that was his home station. didn't realize that it was the

Narrator: Oh,

Orion: around.

Narrator: I might have messed that up. I, 'cause I thought you said you wanted to go to the one that was different and you said starboard, so I assumed you were correct.

Orion: No, no, no. Starboard is the one that everyone like that, that's the one that he knows

Narrator: Oh, because I said like, oh, the one you're familiar with and you went, no, and I was like, what? Okay.

Orion: oh, I'm sorry if I said that.

Narrator: Oh, okay.

Orion: mean because I wrote, I, I because I I've been

Narrator: Shall we recon,

Orion: Yeah.

Narrator: If it has been mentioned that Orion is going to the station he is unfamiliar with. That is incorrect. He is going to the port side station, that is his home station.

All has otherwise gone as planned. Moreen is stationed out front. Orion is now walking in the front, uh, to do what he needs to do.

Orion: Okay. Does the receptionist know me?

Narrator: Yes,

Orion: Okay.

Narrator: yes. know her. it is a, there's not very many, halfling folks in Risen, but she is a, a Halfling woman, , on in years, but. Iron fisted with how she rules the front desk and secretarial staff. And as you walk in, she looks at you eyes instantly very, very wide. Despite how with age, it makes it very difficult for her to sort of peer out from the wrinkles of her face at you. And she goes, Ryan,

Orion: Hey,

Narrator: you're not scheduled for this shift.

Orion: I am not. And look at me being an upstanding citizen and coming back in.

Narrator: While you won't be paid,

Orion: I was afraid you'd say that. Well, um, before I continued the conversation, how disheveled do I look from spending three hours in the belly of

Narrator: you don't look well, your suit is still sweat stained. And I would say you have a level of exhaustion, so you're not doing incredibly well.

Orion: Right? I have had a very long day. A very long shift. Um, and I just really want to make this a get in, get out situation. If I could possibly trouble you guys to just lend me the use of a suit for just, I don't know, a bit a day. Um, I need to, kind of wanna make like a check on something. I, it's, it's like a bit of a personal project of mine, this is the only way that I'm able to actually, you know, get out there.

I just, I can't get to it, um, without a suit and, you know, so if I could just really quick.

Narrator: Roll a persuasion check with disadvantage because I don't know that you gave any adequate explanation for your role and why you need a suit.

Orion: Cool. That was actually than I imagined it would be per,

Chrys: Also you have Bardic.

Orion: I do have bardic. Okay. What is that? A D six

Chrys: Yeah.

Orion: maybe. All right. Exact same result. Okay. So that is a. 17.

Narrator: Okay. She looks at you and she does not immediately throw you out, she goes, I don't, I don't understand. You, you, you don't work in the repair shop. You're, you're in inventory. I, I, I, I. Why? Do you need a uniform?

Orion: Do I know her name?

Narrator: Yes. Her name is Agnes.

Orion: Agnes. Agnes. You know how I used to be actually part of the sun lashers that go out into the field?

Narrator: Yes.

Orion: Right. It's, it's just not the same. Being grounded. And I know that's what everybody says, but sometimes when I am just, I wanna get back out there. I know I can't and we're literally, we're not next to a storm right now. Sometimes I just, I miss it and I would rather not die I don't have good equipment. You know,

Narrator: So you would like to against policy requisition, a Sun lasher uniform so that you can go freestyle diving, roll a persuasion check for me flat, or I'd say deception check. Actually, this would be deception,

Orion: would it be deception? Because

Rook: Could,

Orion: want, he does wish that he could go

Narrator: but that's not the purpose for which you want this suit.

Rook: but he could also use it for that. He's not, technically, it's not, it's not. It's not a total lie.

Narrator: I think it has to be deception.

Chrys: I mean, someone's gonna go free diving.

Narrator: You know what? You know what? Before you tell me what you got, because there is a hint of truth, I'll let you have advantage. The best lies are ones with a hint of truth.

Morin: no way that should have worked.

Orion: Okay, well I'll

Narrator: I am benevolent.

Orion: thank you. Right. For full transparency, I will I rolled a 10 on my first one. So here's hoping this is better. Uh, 19

Narrator: Do you have any bonus at all?

Orion: No, wasn't a. Oh no. I used Bardic already.

Narrator: Well, no. I'm just asking you if you have a bonus or if it's flat.

Orion: I don't. It's flat.

Narrator: Okay.

Orion: is for deception, right?

Narrator: Yeah, I just was asking if you had a modifier.

Orion: misinterpreted that. I thought you meant like the DC was like one mind.

Narrator: I, no. 'cause sometimes you're like, it's, it's a 12 and I'm just like, but do you have, and you're like, oh, plus two. I was just making sure.

Orion: Yeah.

Narrator: Okay. Because I mean, beating a 20 would be different. But you, but you've done well. There's a hint of truth. looks at you. Well, this is against policy. Appear and simple, but let's just say that. I forgot you stopped by. I'm old. I don't have a good memory. The problem is my memory is so spotty sometimes it needs something to smooth it out. My memory, if you understand how I float,

Orion: Loud and clear. Agnes, thank you.

Narrator: so, so, so,

Chrys: Porter, I think she's saying she, she wants a bribe.

Orion: Right.

Rook: a bribe.

Morin: He is like, okay, and leave.

Orion: of an appropriate prime. Agnes, hang

Chrys: Oh.

Orion: I've got something for you. Okay. from knowing her Do I know anything about what she likes?

Narrator: I will say, you know, cold hard cash will do the job.

Orion: know what?

Rook: Money. Money

Orion: I've got a couple weeks worth on me with that. Suffice.

Narrator: I'll take what you got.

Orion: I

Rook: Granny is running his wallet up.

Orion: I, yeah. Two and a half weeks. That's all I got.

Chrys: That moment when the fighter is the broke one.

Orion: Woo.

Narrator: She takes the discs with a practiced hand. She goes, oh, sunny, it's so wonderful that you came. Um, Lucas was your name. Oh, it's so nice. And she just slides it from your hand and like, into her pocket with just a practice ease. And she goes, all right. You, you go and and get what you need. Sunny,

Orion: Thank you, and Orion has never been faster on his feet. He will just be like into suit storage.

Narrator: Mm-hmm. And you're able to find a sort of chest that has the suit packed within it. Normally this would be switched out in a locker 'cause the, the suits are rotated and inspected regularly. So this is one that just hasn't been switched in for its new rotation yet, and you're able to pick it up and it is not inconspicuous to carry around.

So, as you leave, though you do belong there, when you were walking through the halls, no one gave you another eye because you do work there. But on your way out, I'm gonna need you to roll a stealth check for me, but this will be more of your incognito. I'm, I'm here doing what I am supposed to be doing.

Check.

Orion: You know what? It didn't land in my dice trade, but it is on my desk, which is a flat surface, and I have a plus four, so I'm not gonna re-roll it because I am afraid. So with my plus four, that is a dirty 20 I.

Narrator: So with your dirty 20, you are able to walk out. There's no one who's immediately suspicious of you. Maybe it would be a bit different if people, if you didn't work here, but. For all they know. Your manager asked you to carry this out to a waiting lasher or something, and people aren't paid enough to care and so you walk out and are able to reconvene with Morin.

Morin: Oh, that, thing is huge.

Orion: Yeah. Um,

Morin: How are we gonna get that back down?

Orion: um, bridge will cross when we get there. Um, for the time being, uh, got it out. That's the important thing.

Morin: Right. And now we need to. Bring it down to Aria.

Orion: Yes. I did not think this far ahead. Okay.

Morin: what if hear me out? You put it on, and I don't have anything past that.

Orion: You know what? I hear you. I'm hearing you. Okay. Um, I. Ray

Narrator: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Orion: any way to get back to R'S apartment, via the hanging onto the out side of the city. Like not free floating, but hanging onto the outside of the city.

Narrator: You mean outside the hole?

Orion: Yes.

Narrator: I mean, any floater would know ways to do that there. There are ways, but you would have to get to crack in the hole, which you basically, to move with this thing, you will be making a stealth check, but the difficulty and amount of stealth checks will depend on the route you take.

So there is potentially a way to go through the outside of the hole. will take more time as well though. So by the time you got here, got in, got out, you are now down to 18 hours is where you're at.

Orion: Okay. It is less, less conspicuous. If I put it on, I technically, I know how this thing works. That gives me more, that gives me more to work with.

Morin: If you have the suit on and we go outside the city, you're supposed to have. The suit on outside the city. Right.

Orion: Yes,

Morin: Which is better than having the suit on inside the city.

Orion: yes.

Morin: You are so good at this.

Orion: Is when the two melee characters

Chrys: God.

Narrator: The in scores on these characters.

Rook: There is.

Valentine: table. This is just a box,

Narrator: It's a chest. I mean, it's a conspicuous chest, but it's not like,

Morin: Oh,

Valentine: not like a

Morin: I was around.

Orion: me too. I didn't realize it was a chest. I thought it

Rook: Yeah. It's a, it's a box. It's just like it, yeah. It's just, it's just a container that you're lugging around.

Morin: that's.

Orion: Okay. I think I, I

Rook: a delivery man or something, I don't know.

Orion: yeah. You know what? You know what? I'll take my chances. Let's just go the normal route. I didn't realize it was chess. I legitimately thought I just like bridal carried this massive

Narrator: no.

Valentine: I was obsessed with the idea that you guys really thought that like the, a good way to do this was to take this giant spacesuit out of the box, put it on and walk through the city.

Narrator: I was just baffled, but I was like, all right.

Rook: Well, you never just, you never just walk around Tortuga with a full-sized diving bell. Never, just, never just go for a stroll.

Orion: And this is why we're the mailing, we're the mailing class.

Rook: There is, there is one intelligence based character in this group, and it's a bard.

Morin: It is not either of us. Okay.

Orion: God.

Morin: I feel like this box makes more sense inside the city than outside the city

Orion: Wow. Yes. What an astute observation. Onward.

Rook: Why didn't we let you two be in the group

Chrys: Oh my God,

Rook: the squad this splinters off?

Narrator: uh,

Morin: It's gonna go so well.

Narrator: Airheads over here.

Chrys: you guys had to leave Rook behind.

Narrator: Oh man.

Rook: I wasn't just gonna let people in my apartment without me there. That's weird.

Narrator: Alright,

Chrys: enough.

Narrator: are going to go the way you came, the more inconspicuous route, but back towards the apartment. Yes.

Orion: I think my pitch is just going to be maybe more in tags along with an eye distance, and then it would just be a sun lash or inventory guy carrying a large case,

Narrator: Hmm.

Orion: most normal thing, but also not the most outlandish thing,

Narrator: That's very

Morin: That seems better.

Valentine: Less weird than a sun lasher and a wanted criminal carrying a giant

Narrator: Mm-hmm.

Morin: Whoa. No one knows I'm a wanted criminal except that one guy and then probably everyone else that he works with.

Rook: Morin looks to her left and sees like a wanted poster with like a photo realistic version of her face on it.

Orion: and she just like eats it.

Chrys: You just can't get my nose right.

Narrator: Uh,

Valentine: I was just gonna say.

Narrator: perfect. Alright. I think this is a very smart plan. You'll still have to roll a stealth check for Inconspicuousness, but the DC will not be as high because is, this is a good plan. So both of you independently roll stealth checks.

Morin: 12.

Orion: 12.

Morin: Hey.

Narrator: This is wow. Alright. You make your way through your, the city and all the way to Brook's apartment.

Valentine: Brooke, I think you're gonna have to move.

Narrator: There's a loud boom, boom, boom, on Brooke's door.

Rook: I am honestly a little surprised that one, they found this place and two, that they seem to have pulled it off. If that is them, I'm gonna hope that's them. Otherwise, we have more trouble on our hands. Look through the little, little peep hole in the door. Is it them?

Morin: Is it us?

Orion: Rook.

Rook: Is it, is it them?

Narrator: Yes.

Rook: Great. Just opens it, undo the latch, opens it all the way. Okay. it. You good?

Orion: Yeah. Orion holds up the case. And for full transparency, that was a 12 with the minus one, two

Narrator: Mm-hmm.

Orion: things.

Narrator: The exhaustion

Orion: Mm-hmm.

Narrator: beautiful.

Rook: you carry that case up? Four flights of stairs?

Orion: yes. It was not easy.

Morin: But he was really sneaky about it. We had this great, well, really, Orion had a great idea.

Orion: totally. It was.

Narrator: banged on every set of stairs, like when you drag up a rolling suitcase.

Rook: That's that's the first thing that pops in in R's mind. And he's just like, you know, I'm sure the plan was lovely. think if you share that plan with me, I'm going to have an aneurysm right here on the spot. So,

Orion: halfway spot, Orion put it down and was just like, oh, like on the study?

Rook: so without further ado, are we set to get our, our, our guest off the ground here?

Chrys: Is the, is the thing in the chest,

Orion: Uh, that it is and it is very heavy. So please don't make me take it out and put it back in. 

Chrys: could we put the thing in Perhaps an easier to carry container?

Orion: I think this is about as easy as it's gonna get Chris.

Chrys: Wait, how heavy are sun lasher uniforms? Like, do they have to go in a chest?

Narrator: it's pretty substantial. I, I don't think we've parsed out the exact weight, but I'm saying at least 50 pounds. Right? It's, it's like spacesuit gear,

Chrys: So we couldn't like,

Rook: gonna be a, a lot, a lot old timey diving things. Those are like well over a hundred pounds,

Narrator: Well, Orion is jacked, so

Chrys: so we wouldn't be able to like fit that in a backpack or nothing.

Orion: no, no.

Narrator: no, no.

Rook: nah. Mm-hmm.

Orion: the helmet, gloves and boots are reinforced with metal that is also insulated with thick reinforced leather as to prevent conduction and heat and stuff like that. and that's like not counting the, you know, I might have been able to reduce some of the weight if I remove like, the collection mechanism and like the canisters and stuff like that.

So if, if it's just the suit, it might be a little better.

Chrys: It's true. We don't need the collection stuff.

Orion: yeah, let's just say I left it back in the refinery or the, the, the warehouse.

Valentine: I think what's important is time. got 18 hours until the city docks, then we'll have eight hours after that. I'm wondering if it maybe wouldn't be a better idea to stay here for a little bit, because I correct in thinking that it's not gonna take us 18 hours to get to the docks?

Narrator: No. It depends on if you guys are going to try to do a the city journey or inside the city. Journey outside will take longer, but be less likely to be spotted. Versus inside. And when you get ba, because basically you need to decide, are you gonna still try to use a gangway, but you know, sneak a area through so she can just free glide through the portal.

Like she doesn't need to go through the official mechanism, or are you going to go all the way outside the city, starting from down here in the lower decks all the way up and around, and then get her through the portal, or go part of the way inside and then go out and go through the portal. It's just how much you guys wanna do

Valentine: So the, all the way outside has the least chance of being caught. Right?

Narrator: least chance of being caught takes the longest is a little bit more dangerous in terms of environmental risk, but less mortal I, because I can't say human, but less like mortal person risk. Mm-hmm.

Chrys: do have 18 hours left. That's a lot of time before we dock. So like regardless if we decided to take a shorter path, we would just be waiting around anyway, so we might as well take the longer and less likely to get caught path.

Valentine: Yeah, I, I agree. And I think Valentine would present these options to Aria and basically say, I have some idea of what you're up against. If I were you, I would take the long road. I would rather die in the void than be caught by them. But I'm not you, and it should be your decision. 

Narrator: I mean, uh, yeah, uh, never been outside the city. The thought of, uh, out there and the nothings is, um, scary. Uh, it's sort of my worst nightmare. The thought of, uh, out into the nothing but, um, not my worst nightmare, but it's up there.

Rook: Uh, I, I, I think there are worse things than, than being into nothing, around here.

Orion: and for what it's worth, both me and Lauren have been, you know, So we'll make sure that, um, your suit and everything is well tethered so nothing happens.

Narrator: Yeah. Um, all right, well if you think that's the best bet, then um.

Rook: And, and from, from my own understanding with this, I'm not, I'm not used to all this, you know, out outside the city in, in the void stuff. Um, just So the plan is to essentially have Terry wear, a Terry is going to be using the sun Lasher suit Yes.

Valentine: Yeah,

Rook: And doing this. So this suit is going to be like lost forever.

Yes.

Valentine: correct.

Rook: Great. Just wanted to make sure I had that understood. Orion, was that like something you can get away with or are you gonna be like without a paddle because of this too?

Orion: You know, I am sure that is nothing. Some extra, some extra chips, rads, and overtime won't fix.

Rook: What an optimistic perspective. I trust your judgment and this is not my realm, so I will stay out of it.

Narrator: I, uh, I don't like that you're putting yourself way out there more than just, well, thank you, Ryan, for doing that.

Orion: Some of us gotta get outta here.

Narrator: Yeah.

Chrys: Before we, we go, how long have we been sitting in Brook's apartment?

Narrator: The round trip, it's been a little over two hours.

Chrys: So this whole time that we've been sitting here, like two hours kris has been like crisscross applesauce on the crisscross applesauce on the floor. Knitting, like their life depends on it.

 You guys have never seen Kris so focused on something in the few hours that you have known her. Before we leave, Chris is going to go up to Morin, do you have your like whip with you or whatever it is your grappling hook?

Morin: Yeah, my grappling hook is always hooked onto the right side of my belt. Kind of looped up.

Chrys: Does it have like a handle at the end or is it just a rope?

Morin: There's a spot of the rope that's like a little thicker, so a little easier to hold onto in case I disconnect it, from the belt and need to actually just hold onto it.

Chrys: Okay. In that case, oh, it's just a loop you said, sorry. I'm.

Morin: Okay.

Orion: think it's more like a, like a thicker knot like situation where it's like a handle, but it's still like rope.

Morin: The, yeah, the end of the, the one end of the rope that doesn't have the hook on it. The whole thing is kind of looped up in order to stay secure on

Chrys: Hmm.

Morin: but the end of it that doesn't have the hook on it is, it looks like the rope has just been kind of tied over itself a few times to make it a thicker handhold.

Chrys: Okay. So is Moran wearing any gloves of any sort?

Morin: Yeah, she usually has, little like leather finger gloves on.

Chrys: So Chris kind of comes up to you, and says, um, hello Lauren. Um, are you doing better now?

Morin: From before when I was bleeding out. Yes. Yes I am. Um,

Chrys: Yes, then And also in the tunnel.

Morin: oh yeah, no, it's, I've cooled down and settled down and I, um, thank you for that, by the way. I felt the guidance when you placed your hand on me earlier.

Chrys: Yes. I was hoping that would be helpful. I was, I didn't want to do it if it was going to make it worse, but I'm glad it was of help. Um, I made you something while you were out, um, here and uh, they kind of hand you like, it almost looks like a little, uh, it's like a little, you know how people can like knit little like doles.

Narrator: Doles.

Chrys: Yeah, doles. I can't speak today. I'm so sorry. Everyone

Narrator: good. I

Rook: No. I mean, don't,

Narrator: now on.

Rook: Was about to say who? Who doesn't? Who doesn't know a good do You know, it's.

Chrys: do. And like, you can like make a little like design on it and it's like little thing you can hang from something. Um, so I, I saw that you have, um, that thing on your waist. Um, I, I made a little thing you can put on the end of it. Um, and it has like, uh, it has like your, uh, it has like your, your initial and m embroidered on it or put, put on it like little knitted on it.

Um, and, um, I put a protective spell in it for you. Um, so if you should be, um, not doing so well again, you, you can, uh, use it and feel better. Um, it's, it's cure wounds for mechanical purposes, um, first level, but yeah.

Morin: Oh my goodness. I and Mor will look down at it for a minute and study it in silence for like a solid 30 seconds and then look back up at you. Chris, your character is pure and I will do my best to defend that as long as we know each other.

Chrys: Oh, thank you very much. I think

Morin: Yes. Thank you.

Chrys: Chris does their little broken ass smile.

Morin: And Warren will quietly start figuring out how to attach it to the end of her grappling hook.

Chrys: And then Chris is gonna walk over to Ataria, and say, I don't know much, um, especially not about whatever is happening with you. Um, I understand it is scary for you. Um, so I also made you something and, uh, Chris hands her like a little pair of knitted uh, gloves. And says if you feel the need to, um, quickly get away from whatever is happening, uh, these are imbued with magic and can help you, uh, mechanically.

It's a misty step spell in the thing.

Narrator: Oh, uh. Thank you. This is, uh, this is too nice.

Chrys: I hope that it goes well for you where you are headed. I understand that you are going away.

Narrator: yeah. Do you need another, uh, another favor or something?

Chrys: Oh, no. Nothing like that. I just wanted to give you this.

Narrator: Oh, uh, well that's real nice of you. It's, um, gosh, sorry it's been such a long day. I, uh, I don't really know what to say. Just thanks.

Chrys: You are welcome Ms. Ataria.

Narrator: Yeah. Uh, yeah. You are nice, Chris. It's, don't lose that.

Chrys: I will do my best.

Narrator: Sure you will. I, uh, take

Rook: Could I,

Narrator: you got some time to kill, right? Everybody?

Rook: could I try to get a read on that whole reaction real quick?

Narrator: Oh, sure. Do an insight check for me.

Rook: Okay. Let's, let's see how that goes. I don't deserve this. I don't, this dine needs to stop being good. Insight check. That's gonna be a 2118 plus three.

Narrator: what specifically are you trying to glean?

Rook: I'm trying to glean kind of the emotional tone behind her reaction to Kris's offer of genuine kindness

Narrator: Hmm.

Rook: it seemed like there could be like a tinge of guilt there, and I'm trying to glean if she's, still up to, up, up to some nonsense and feels bad about it.

Narrator: You are correct in detecting guilt, but there's layers to it. The most prevalent of which is deep down Atter believes that any kindness shown to her is wasted. That is the most ever present feeling. She does not believe she deserves this kindness, and anyone going out of their way beyond like what she paid them to do for her benefit is making her deeply uncomfortable. she just truly in her deepest heart of hearts does not believe that she's worth it or worth the effort. With above a 20, you see that there is also a deeper layer of guilt of not only does she not deserve this kindness, but she feels like she is bad for Kris to be around you can't read her mind. You can't read into like what that guilt is tied to. she is telling Kris to hold on to that niceness and that goodness, is grateful that she will be out of Kris's life very soon. I'll

Rook: Oh,

Narrator: a 20. This is sort of what you glean.

Rook: okay then. And with, with that whole conversation, terminating, I think Rook is gonna kind of set down the pipe for a sec and walk into his, his, his room. Um, door's gonna close, and then anyone who's particularly listening is just gonna hear like the sound, like clothes hangers shuffling and like drawers moving around.

Valentine: Not to be crass, but payment. I know if I was in your position, I would want a guarantee that we would get you to where you're going safely, but I also know that the information that we're taking, this payment is sensitive and you probably don't want to be spilling it at some hatchway before we make it outside. Would you like to tell us here, I can swear to you. Will get you to your destination safely.

Narrator: Um.

Valentine: I.

Narrator: I don't really feel comfortable saying it. Uh, yeah, people are nice, but I don't, I didn't make any promises to the float or the, uh, the, the witch. Um, I would, I would need more privacy. And I think maybe the best time to tell you the worst information you're ever gonna learn is before I get outta dodge. But, um, I'm about tell you part of it now and part of it then. Right.

Valentine: As you want.

Narrator: But, uh,

Rook: So,

Narrator: just you.

Valentine: Okay. We can, um, go in the bathroom.

Rook: so at this point, Rook emerges from the room, with kind of a neatly folded of different clothes, from his closet. And it looks, sedar just goes several orders of business, just briefly getting things out in the air starters. It's been a long day, um, and people probably know you a bit by the way.

You dress, at least the kinds of people that you're talking about having to run in with. So take these, do what you will, clean yourself up, get a change, whatever you need, it'll help. It'll help you stay outta sight. Anything like that. Two, I'm sure you remember how I initially got on you in the first place. I kind of need a bit more to follow up on than that, 'cause there's still a dead woman and it's still my job to follow up. After all, this is just business and I know I've butt in on to your business, but I still got my own job to do and unfortunately you are heavily tangled up in that. So for both our sakes, it would really work better for everyone involved if I could get information that I need as well, that, not to talk myself up too much, but I did do a substantial job in deterring the lieutenant back there.

Narrator: All I told you is I would tell you who I saw, who I saw going up into Phyllis's office looking for her. Were a group of thugs. They, uh, look for the cousins. I don't even know their Gods given names,

Rook: Uh, stop. Takes his pipe, takes a long drag, blows it down on the ground, it kind of just spirals out in this ominous, kind of pinkish, bluish smoke on the ground. Then almost just settles and just sits there. And I'm casting zone of truth again. So I would like a tart to make a saving throw.

Narrator: What is your safe?

Rook: Zone of truth would be a charisma. Save. DC 14,

Narrator: She succeeds.

Rook: I really wish that would work better, whatever. Well, look, I've tried to help you as honestly as I can, but it seems that you don't have much of a bone in your body for helping others or being very honest in your life. So unfortunately you seem to be getting more help than you do. And that is my honest opinion of you. Quite frankly. You have a group of people here bending over backwards for you. And quite frankly, I would be unaffected if I sent you outta here right now with all the dangers that's hot on your trail. None of us have to be helping you except the one that's explicitly hired to do so. So it seems to me from where I'm standing that you're taking a lot of folk for granted, quite frankly, you might wanna rethink that doesn't seem like it's gotten you very far in life.

Narrator: All right, Mr. Rook, I can leave if that's what you want.

Rook: Never said That's what I want. I said, that's what could be fair. Luckily for you though, you have wandered into five of the SAPs on this hunk of rock. It seemed to have a generous bone in their body. Take the clothing, take the shelter, take whatever. I.

Narrator: I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for anyone to be nice to me. I offered to pay people to help me. I only wanted what I paid for, which wasn't you, which wasn't the floated girl or the, the, the dead guy. None of that is what I asked for. I didn't ask for people to go out of the way and risk their jobs for me.

I didn't ask for you to tag along and help me with the fricking detective. I could have handled the detective somehow, I'm sure, or maybe I wouldn't have. Maybe he would've taken me in and turned me over to whoever wants me. I don't. I don't care. Right? The God's given truth that you want so bad. I don't need a fricking circle to tell you. I fully intend to be dead by the end of the day tomorrow. That's what I want. I just wanna see the sun first. There is no happy ending for me at the end of this road, Mr. Rook.

That is not what I want. That is not what I intend. And any kindness anyone shows to me is wasted 'cause they're wasted on a dead broad. Alright? That's the truth of it. And God forbid I hold some of that close to my chest 'cause it's a little bit heavy to deal with. It's a little bit heavy to live this life, sir.

And I know you've suffered and I know they've suffered. I know everybody has suffered. But believe me when I say I have suffered for a long, long God's forsaken time on this stupid drifting rock, and I'm done and I wanna go out on my terms and maybe, maybe I could've been a little more transparent with you maybe, but what have you done to really deserve that?

From the moment you met me, you accosted me, cast spells on me, acted all suspicious. How do I know that you were really hired to solve Phyllis's death? Maybe you were just hired to find me. Why do I trust you? I don't. 

I don't actually trust any of you except maybe, maybe the angel over there. I have had a rough day and a rough life, and I didn't need your kindness. No one's ever shown it to me before. Take your hotty attitude. Shove it up where the void don't shine and leave me the hells alone just for a goddamn minute while I go talk Valentine in the bathroom. Alright. Alright, Valentine, come here.

Valentine: I don't think it just kind of drifts after her.

Narrator: Ter shuts the door, slams it turns on the faucet, and she'll have a conversation with Valentine that the rest of you won't be privy to. And that's where we'll end this episode. 

Valentine: Ooh.

Chrys: Uh.

Orion: and it all comes out.